Abstract

This study investigates the use of social media for managing uncertainties, seeking information and social support, and building online community among adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Southern Africa. Employing a cross-sectional survey design, this research collected quantitative and qualitative data from 195 respondents across ten Southern African countries. The study utilized uncertainty management theory and an information-seeking framework to examine how neurodivergent individuals engage with social media platforms for health-related purposes. Results suggest that social media is a valuable resource for neurodivergent adults in Southern Africa to seek information, manage uncertainties, and fulfill informational, emotional, belonging, and active support needs. Overall, findings contribute to the limited literature on neurodivergent populations in Africa, informing the development of healthcare support frameworks, encouraging social media platform refinements, and underscoring the growing significance of digital technologies for marginalized groups to solicit health information and exchange social support.

Key Words: ADHD/ASD, Social Media, Information Seeking, Social Support, Health Communication

About the Authors

*Tariro Tandi is a doctoral student at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, U.S.A. Her research interests include neurodivergence and social media use, health inequities, and mediated communication processes in Southern Africa.

**Brent Joseph Hale (PhD, Indiana University) is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at the School of Media & Communication, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, U.S.A. His research focus includes interlocutory and psychological responses to social media content through commenting, including messages related to health and politics.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 18, No. 2, October 2026, pp. 67-81.

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Tandi, T. & Hale, B. J. (2026). Seeking neurodivergent community online: An investigation of social media use among neurodivergent adults in southern Africa. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 18 (2): 67-81.

Declaration

This study was approved by The University of Southern Mississippi IRB (Approval #23-0668). No funding was received for the development or execution of this work.

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